Life Sciences Commons^™

Phylogeny Of Family Limnephilidae (Insecta: Trichoptera) With Emphasis On Tribe Limnephilini (Subfamily Limnephilinae), Tatyana Vshivkova

John C Morse

Morphological characters of adults and immature stages of Limnephilidae were analyzed with modern phylogenetic techniques, including traditionally used characters and some that have been poorly investigated or never studied. For the first time, monophyly is inferred for the following nominotypical taxa: superfamily Limnephiloidea, family Limnephilidae, subfamily Limnephilinae, tribe Limnephilini, and Limnephilus sensu stricto. Some other higher taxa are distinguished based on high bootstrap support, unreversed synapomorphies, and/or topography, including a new family-group category for Trichoptera, 'Branch,' more inclusive than the family category and less inclusive than the superfamily category. These new taxa in Limnephiloidea are as follows: Brachycentrida New Branch …

A Morphological And Genetic Analysis Of Forensically Important Blow Flies, From Georgia: The Genus Lucilia, Katie S. Googe

Honors College Theses

Identification of Blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) to species is important for estimating postmortem intervals, because insect species develop at different rates. Three Blow fly species in Georgia; Lucilia coeruleiviridis, L. cuprina, and L. sericata are similar morphologically, making identification difficult. Furthermore, the status of L. cuprina is in doubt; this species may be a complex of true L. cuprina, and L. cuprina x L. sericata hybrids. The objective of this study was to survey the Georgia Blow fly community and validate the statuses of L. coeruleiviridis, L. cuprina, and L. sericata, through morphological and …

A Revision And Phylogenetic Analysis Of The Genus Eutyphlus Leconte (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) With A Comparison Of Sampling Methodologies, Brittany Elin Owens

LSU Master's Theses

My thesis research includes three components: (1) a methodology project, (2) a systematic project comprising a taxonomic revision, and (3) a morphology-based, cladistic analysis. 1. The methodological study compared the Winkler (Moczarski) eclector and the Berlese-Tullgren funnel (referred to hereafter as “Winkler” and “Berlese” funnels, respectively) as methods for extracting forest litter-dwelling Coleoptera from sifted substrate, with a focus on relevance for taxonomic studies. A general review of the history and methodologies of leaf litter arthropod extraction was provided, in conjunction with repeated, timed trials to compare the relative effectiveness of the two methods using litter samples from various geographic …

Morphological Characterization And Molecular Mediated Genetic Variation Of Thief Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Ralph B. Narain, Shripat T. Kamble, Thomas O. Powers

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The morphological characterization and molecular genetic variation were determined in populations of thief ants, Solenopsis molesta (Say). The genetic variations were elucidated using mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mDNA) sequences of cytochrome oxidase I. DNA from thief ants was extracted with Qiagen’s Gentra PUREGENE DNA Isolation Kit using their solid tissue protocol. Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were run on the extracted DNA using primers Lep-F1 (forward) and Lep-R1 (reverse). The DNA products were concentrated and purified by Microcon Centrifugal Filter Unit YM-100. Purified DNA samples were sequenced at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences (UAMS) DNA Sequencing Core Facility. The sequences were …

Taxonomy, Biogeography And Pest Status Of Marmara Sp. In Northern Mexico And California Citrus Production, Paul Semet

Master's Theses

A novel lepidopteran sex pheromone lure which was thought to be species-specific to the citrus pest Marmara gulosa (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) Guillén (McElfresh et al. 2009) has attracted male moths exhibiting two distinct morphologies. The morphological features examined were the sclerotized parts that make up the male genitalia; which include the valvular lobes, costal lobes, cucullar lobes, and the aedeagus. The sclerotized parts were methodically dissected and mounted on microscope slides. Digital images captured of the slide-mounted specimens proved to be inconsistent with the illustrations provided in the original Marmara gulosa species description (Guillén et al. 2001).

The morphologies of all …

Description Of New Species Of Fidicinoides Boulard & Martinelli (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) From Brazil, Rodrigo Souza Santos Rss

Rodrigo Souza Santos RSS

The examination of entomological collections of cicadas of several Brazilian institutions revealed three undescribed species in the genus Fidicinoides Boulard & Martinelli i.e., F. dolosa sp.n., F. carmenae sp.n. and F. rosabasalae sp.n. They are described and illustrated based on the male genitalia, the right anterior femur and the operculum.

Revision Of The Ant Genus Procryptocerus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Cephalotini), Francisco Serna

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Ants of the genus Procryptocerus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are characterized by the protrusion of the clypeus forming a broad nasus and antennal scrobes over the eyes. The toruli are located directly posterior to the flanks of the nasus opposite to each other. The vertex is deflexed in most species. I present an in-group comparison of the external morphology focusing on the workers. I also present a general morphology for gynes and males. I analize previously mentioned characters as well as new ones, and clarify their character states in different species. For the metasoma I propose a new system of ant metasomal …

Occurrence Of Fidicinoides Pauliensis Boulard & Martinelli, 1996 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) In Coffee Plant In Tapiratiba, Sp, Rodrigo Souza Santos Rss

Rodrigo Souza Santos RSS

This paper presents the first register of Fidicinoides pauliensis Boulard & Martinelli, 1996 in coffee plant in the municipality of Tapiratiba, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The characterization and illustrations of the species are presented.

Revision Of The Males Of The Hydrospyche Scalaris Group In North America (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae), James Korecki

All Theses

The genus Hydrospsyche Pictet sensu stricto in North America is divided into three species groups, the Hydrospyche cuanis Ross Group Ross, the Hydropsyche depravata Hagen Group Ross, and the Hydropsyche scalaris Hagen Group Banks. Thirty-one of thirty-six described species are recognized in the Hydropsyche scalaris Group. Examination of adult males resulted in 5 junior subjective synonyms and one possible new species based on a single exemplar from Sevier County, Utah. Hydropsyche bidens Ross 1938, H. orris Ross 1938, and H. alvata Denning 1949 are junior synonyms of Hydropsyche incommoda Hagen 1861. Hydrospyche rossi Flint, Voshell and Parker, 1979 and H. …

Phylogeny Of Family Limnephilidae (Insecta: Trichoptera) With Emphasis On Tribe Limnephilini (Subfamily Limnephilinae), Tatyana Vshivkova

All Dissertations

Morphological characters of adults and immature stages of Limnephilidae were analyzed with modern phylogenetic techniques, including traditionally used characters and some that have been poorly investigated or never studied. For the first time, monophyly is inferred for the following nominotypical taxa: superfamily Limnephiloidea, family Limnephilidae, subfamily Limnephilinae, tribe Limnephilini, and Limnephilus sensu stricto. Some other higher taxa are distinguished based on high bootstrap support, unreversed synapomorphies, and/or topography, including a new family-group category for Trichoptera, 'Branch,' more inclusive than the family category and less inclusive than the superfamily category. These new taxa in Limnephiloidea are as follows: Brachycentrida New Branch …

Behavioral, Molecular, And Morphological Evidence For A Hybrid Zone Between Chrysochus Auratus And C. Cobaltinus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Merrill A. Peterson, Susanne Dobler, Jeff Holland, Lauren Tantalo, Stefanie Locke

Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

In this article, we describe a hybrid zone between the chrysomelid beetles, Chrysochus auratus (F.), andC. cobaltinus LeConte, which have historically been considered as having allopatric distributions. By combining field studies with surveys of museum specimens, we documented that in western North America there are two regions in which these beetles are sympatric, and four additional regions in which populations of the two species are Washington, we found an ≈25 km wide area of sympatry in which the two species freely interbreed. Morphological and allozyme differences between the species allowed us to demonstrate that individuals with intermediate coloration in …

Nest Usurpation, Supersedure And Colony Failure Contribute To Africanization Of Commercially Managed European Honey Bees In Venezuela, Robert G. Danka, Richard L. Hellmich, Thomas E. Rinderer

Richard L Hellmich

The fates of 58 colonies in 4 apiaries managed commercially for honey production in northwest Venezuela were determined during 15 months. All colonies had been previously requeened with marked European queens. Heritage of new queens (European daughter replacements versus Africanized usurpers) was traced by mitochondrial DNA and morphological characteristics of worker progeny. Three usurpations (5% of colony fates, at a rate of 4.7% of colonies per year) occurred. These colonies showed congruent African-derived mitochondrial DNA and Africanized morphology. Supersedures accounted for much of the introgression of African genes into the test apiaries. Twenty-eight colonies (48%) superseded their queens once, three …